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With the 2015 target date for the Millennium Development Goals and Education For All fast approaching, the issue of out-of-school children is more important than ever for countries in West and Central Africa. Since 2000, the number of out-of-school children was on a downward trend, however, since 2008 these figures have not moved; the burden for countries in the region has increased dramatically for they are now home to more than a third of the world’s out-of-school children. Based on the latest household surveys from 21 countries in the region, this study reports that there are nearly 32 million children of official school age who are not attending either primary or lower secondary school. A further 17 million school children who are at risk of dropping out could be added to this figure. These statistics, which show the magnitude of the situation, fail to take into account the hardships associated with this situation for families and the huge loss for the region and society as a whole.

This study aims to shed some light on the scale and mechanisms of exclusion in the region, and to bring to the fore a number of tools and resources that are available to promote the educational inclusion of all children. To enable all children, even the most marginalized, to have access to basic quality education, we need to think creatively and make use of all the resources at our disposal. It is imperative that the fight against all forms of exclusion is coordinated and concerted. Indeed, without mass mobilization of all stakeholders and a comprehensive strategy, it will not be possible to effectively address all forms of school exclusion. However, only a truly inclusive education system has the capacity to build a knowledge-based society, which the region urgently needs for its future. The international community has a decisive role to play in supporting the efforts of these countries to develop an inclusive education system.

2014;UNESCO;UNICEF;WCARO - Western and Central Africa;EFA and MDGs;Gender equality in education;Girls education and vulnerable populations;Measuring progress;Primary education;Academic research and studies;Latest;English

With the 2015 target date for the Millennium Development Goals and Education For All fast approaching, the issue of out-of-school children is more important than ever for countries in West and Central Africa. Since 2000, the number of out-of-school children was on a downward trend, however, since 2008 these figures have not moved; the burden for countries in the region has increased dramatically for they are now home to more than a third of the world’s out-of-school children. Based on the latest household surveys from 21 countries in the region, this study reports that there are nearly 32 million children of official school age who are not attending either primary or lower secondary school. A further 17 million school children who are at risk of dropping out could be added to this figure. These statistics, which show the magnitude of the situation, fail to take into account the hardships associated with this situation for families and the huge loss for the region and society as a whole.

This study aims to shed some light on the scale and mechanisms of exclusion in the region, and to bring to the fore a number of tools and resources that are available to promote the educational inclusion of all children. To enable all children, even the most marginalized, to have access to basic quality education, we need to think creatively and make use of all the resources at our disposal. It is imperative that the fight against all forms of exclusion is coordinated and concerted. Indeed, without mass mobilization of all stakeholders and a comprehensive strategy, it will not be possible to effectively address all forms of school exclusion. However, only a truly inclusive education system has the capacity to build a knowledge-based society, which the region urgently needs for its future. The international community has a decisive role to play in supporting the efforts of these countries to develop an inclusive education system.